One of the things I have to do as a business consultant is to be a great listener. This is a key leadership and communication skill for..
Entries by Alan Gehringer
Philip Kotler implores us to do a better job of understanding “who” our valuable customers are and then to deeply please them, rather than..
Topics: Increasing Sales
I have been helping companies develop their strategies for growth and profitability for over twenty years. As with many consultants, I..
Topics: Strategy Execution
I previously wrote a blog titled 21 Production KPI Examples to Improve Manufacturing Performance, and many people were interested in..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
We are coming into that time of year where a lot of companies are gearing up or doing their annual planning to prepare for next year. In..
I have made it a priority to be a lifelong learner which aligns well with one of our company’s core values of “Keep Smart.” As an employee,..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Financial rewards are just the beginning of what keeps employees active in their job role. Another, more overlooked factor, is job..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
As a leader with decades in the business, I attended the Galliard Group National Gathering, where I had the privilege of spending two days..
A common tool used in planning sessions is the SWOT analysis. The acronym SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Most Companies Fail Due to Poor Strategic Execution
As a fan of Blue Ocean strategy, you already know how important it is to have the right..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions
Customer retention is a routine, where you rinse, repeat, and rise to perfection over time. In 2018, winning new customers and keeping..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth
You have probably heard the old saying, what gets measured, gets improved. Very much an old engineering phrase from back in the day, but as..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards, Employee Health and Retention, Recruiting Employees
It is important to grow the top line of your business on an annual basis, but you also need to make sure the bottom line is healthy which..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards
Two key concepts in manufacturing that often get misconstrued or even used synonymously are manufacturing productivity and manufacturing ..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
No matter what business your company is in, it's a safe bet to assume that you'll need to be able to adapt to the changing conditions..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
How often do you attend meetings where nothing gets accomplished? If you're looking for ways to improve meeting effectiveness, then look..
Topics: Effective Meetings
We recently held our 6th annual Breakthrough Conference, although it was our first ever virtual conference, and I want to share a few ideas..
I have written previously about the importance of Identifying your core customer because I have seen far too many companies waste their..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
Having the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on your CEO dashboard is very important to ensure you are driving the right behaviors in..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards
Strategic planning is a critical part of running a successful company or organization. Yet, too often, companies don’t take enough time to..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
"People come to work with the best intentions to give it their best and work on the right things. If we don't plan effectively together,..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, New CEO
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I grew up in a manufacturing family. My grandmother had her own manufacturing company, and my father was a partner in a local manufacturing..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
How Well are Referrals Working for Your Business?
We have all heard the old saying, "You have to give to get." This principle remains valid..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
Your business is experiencing strong growth – now what? Double-digit growth brings with it a host of new challenges, particularly how to..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
It is very common to develop a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for your business. What is not so common is to develop a BHAG for your..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I recently prepared for an annual planning session with a client and one thing the client wanted to work on was their Big Hairy Audacious..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
The greatest athletes and business leaders in the world have coaches. No matter how good you are, and you are probably really good, there..
Driving new sales revenue is a common theme that comes up with the clients I work with. In fact, I can’t think of many companies that have..
Topics: Increasing Sales, KPIs & Dashboards
I am a big fan of Jim Collins and have used his book “Good to Great” as a business tool for many years. I was recently introduced to the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
As in the past many years, I entered 2020 with a full schedule of strategy and execution planning work with my clients. Then the pandemic..
I have recently been involved in a few conversations with clients that are new to the Rockefeller Habits or to long-range planning. The..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
You just completed an acquisition in business, time to celebrate and break out the champagne. For some companies, acquiring businesses..
Topics: Mergers & Acquisitions
You had a great annual planning session. You worked hard developing your 3 year strategic plan for revenue growth and profit (scaling up)..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Learn as much as you can to energize yourself and bring your best to the business!
I am a big fan of Warren Buffet and Bill Gates (even..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
To give your business an edge against the competition in 2019, you might be considering some ways to level yourself up in the process...
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
2020 was an extraordinary year on many fronts. Most people I know are very glad it is behind them, and now that it is and we are a month..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I have helped many companies identify and leverage their core competencies through the years, and doing this can really make a difference..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Quite a few years back, a good friend of mine introduced me to John Miller and his book “QBQ – The Question Behind the Question.” I had..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Your company is not alone if there are gaps in your business strategy. I have worked with third generation companies that just never took..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Take this quick quiz to determine if you are ready to engage with an executive coach and take your game to the next level. An executive..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
What's the difference between KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and Quarterly Rocks? This can be a very confusing question, especially for..
These are crazy times we find ourselves in right now. I have heard more than one person say that they have never experienced anything like..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards
Who is facilitating your next One-Day Quarterly Planning Session?
Whether you are doing it yourself, bringing in an outside facilitator,..
Does your who do what? It sounds somewhat funny, but this is really a serious question. Many people know what these terms are, but for..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
There is no better time than the present to work on completing your strategy. You may have wanted to nail down your work on core customer,..
Most companies we work with are still operating in a virtual or semi-virtual world, and fortunately, employees are adapting well. It is..
I facilitate a lot of strategy and execution planning sessions throughout the year. The majority of the time, I do this on-site with a..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Peter Drucker stated that ”the best and most dedicated people are ultimately volunteers, for they have the opportunity to do something..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
If you do not operate your business using Rhythm or the Rockefeller Habits, you might be asking yourself "why would I have a meeting with..
Topics: Effective Meetings
Synergy is an often overused term, although incredibly effective when actually achieved. Merriam-Webster defines synergy as "a mutually..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
We have all heard the saying "A fish rots from the head down," right? Not that I am comparing my CEO friends to fish, but it does drive the..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, KPIs & Dashboards, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Has your growth stalled or have you missed your revenue and profitability targets the last few years?
There is a solution. But before we..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
I recently watched an interesting webinar by Art Markman, PhD, explaining the highlights of his book “Smart Thinking.” I found the..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Have you performed a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) audit in the past quarter or two? This is something I recommend to clients on a..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards
Planning is very important to set your company up for a successful year. You have probably heard the saying, "If you don't know where..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I have this great book I picked up ten or so years ago titledThe Book of Entrepreneurial Wisdom edited by Peter Krass. It is full of short..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
If you are like many company leaders, you may be skeptical about working on your business strategy and developing strategic plans. I..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
According to the Harvard Business School, increasing customer retention rates by 5 percent increases profits by 25 percent to 95 percent.
..
Topics: Increasing Sales, KPIs & Dashboards
How effective are your continuous improvement efforts?
I focus a lot of my attention on top-line growth these days, but that by no means..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Our team recently completed a leadership development training on the “7 Habits of Managers.” The material is based on Stephen R. Covey’s..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.” - Lao Tzu
I think this quote sets the stage. I believe I have taken..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
If уоu aspire to be in a position of leadership (or even if you already are a leader), thеn understand thаt a leader knоwѕ hоw tо lead аnd..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
As an executive coach, part of my job is to be a good listener. Some of this coaching is done in person while a lot of it is done on the..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I came across this quote of a story that really resonated with me.
Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in a park when an..
Topics: Increasing Sales
To support growing your top line, you need to have an effective Brand Promise and Brand Promise Guarantee. The Brand Promise should help..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I have spent most of my life working in the manufacturing sector. My first experience began as a young boy in my Grandmother’s sewing..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Iѕ уоur corporate сulturе роѕіtіvе or is it сut-thrоаt?
Cоmраnу culture іѕ оnе of thоѕе thіngѕ thаt just еvоlvеѕ organically... rіght? Not..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
As part of Jim Collins’ Good to Great work, he introduces us to the concept of a Hedgehog. The term comes from the famous essay by Isaiah..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
As a business coach and strategist, I use many concepts to help companies develop the most effective plans for profitable growth. Some of..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
As we approach the busiest season for annual planning, I am encouraging clients to spend more time working on their strategic priorities,..
By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail – Benjamin Franklin
It is that time of the year again: time to prepare for your quarterly..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
I would challenge you to think very hard about this question as it’s not an easy one to answer based on my experience as a facilitator,..
While a lot of companies say that employees are their most valuable assets, not all walk the walk. It takes a lot of time and effort to ..
I was going through some materials and came across a file that one of my good friends and mentors had given me in a training session a..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
You worked hard with your team to develop a winning annual plan. Everyone is optimistic going into the year that this plan is going to..
It’s that time of year to create a winning plan for next year. As part of the Annual Planning process, you will be reviewing last year’s..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have.” - Emil Chartier
I recently wrote a blog highlighting the first differentiator for the webinar I presented for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
..
I am very excited to share that I facilitated a webinar for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in July, and we had over 500 people..
Topics: Mergers & Acquisitions
It is that time of year again when I am developing a workshop for our annual Breakthrough Conference. This year, I am working on a topic..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
Business is all about getting as much done as possible because time is essentially money. In order to seize the day and pull ahead of the..
Topics: Strategy Execution
The average worker is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes a day. It is hard to believe most people are productive for less than 3..
Topics: Strategy Execution
Getting more focused, more productive, and more accountable.
We all talk about doing this as a New Year's Resolution for our companies...
Topics: Strategy Execution
Determining your Sandbox is the first step in the five step process to develop your Brand Promise and a very important one that will have a..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I help develop and review a lot of annual and quarterly plans, and one thing I see in most of them is an initiative or priority around..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Merriam-Webster Definition of Curiosity
- 1: desire to know: a: inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosiness b: ..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
We have an internal team that meets weekly and goes by the name “CANI." Although I was trained as an industrial engineer, this was a term..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I am taking a poll on what you think the role of a leader is. There are a lot of good answers to this question that I have heard, read, and..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I recently attended a regional leadership forum held by my friend, John Moore. I always enjoy the opportunity to network with local..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
A few уеаrѕ аgо, I rеаd The E-Mуth Rеvіѕіtеd. It was аn еntеrtаіnіng eye-ореnеr thаt hеlреd сhаngе my thoughts on how to run a buѕіnеѕѕ. I..
Topics: Strategy Execution
Two-thirds of CEOs don’t receive any outside advice on their leadership skills, and yet almost all would be receptive to suggestions from a..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I nеvеr сеаѕе tо bе аmаzеd at the extent tо whісh ideas developed fоr industrial аnd business settings ѕееm so fit fоr реrѕоnаl..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
What іѕ іt that mаkеѕ some реорlе truly ѕuссеѕѕful contrasted with the majority of the population? Is it safe to say that they are ѕmаrtеr,..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Jасk Wеlсh оnсе said, "Whеn mаnаgеrѕ аѕk quеѕtіоnѕ, they aren't lооkіng fоr answers, thеу'rе looking fоr vаlіdаtіоn." Quеѕtіоnѕ аrе a..
Topics: Effective Meetings
Tоdау'ѕ wоrkfоrсе ѕееkѕ development, орроrtunіtу, and jоb ѕаtіѕfасtіоn. At оnе tіmе, іt wаѕ mоrе соmmоn fоr wоrkеrѕ to remain with one..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Are you getting enough sleep? Doing so can really improve your focus and performance.
According to a Gallup Survey, fifty-nine percent of..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Getting - and staying - focused can make you a lot more productive and happier. Of course, doing so is easier said than done. Some days I..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I came across a video on YouTube titled "Steve Jobs on 'Think Different' - Internal Meeting Sept. 23, 1997." I believe any company that has..
I recently had the pleasure of spending some time with Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, former commander of the USS Benfold. He took the worst..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
In the fall, we had our first annual Breakthrough Conference in Charlotte, NC. The gods did not provide us with abundant sunshine for the..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
I pulled a book out of my library that one of my consultant friends gave me as a gift about seven years ago, and I found a great list I..
Do you offer ultimate customer service when it is really needed? I just returned from an annual planning session with a client. I had a..
Topics: Increasing Sales
“Creativity is a muscle. You have to work it continually. If you do, it will get stronger and easier to use.” Tom Kelley, Partner at Ideo
I..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I travel often to consult with clients and facilitate strategy and execution planning sessions. This results in a lot of time spent in..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I just finished reading the latest edition of Chief Executive Magazine, and the article that really caught my attention was the selection..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
Topics: Strategy Execution
I have to share a funny story. A couple of weeks ago my wife placed a copy of a New York Times article by Daniel Goleman on Emotional..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Do you encourage your employees to fail? Doing so can produce some breakthrough ideas and products.
I am reading Exponential Organizations,..
I recently read a great abstract on Elevate: The Three Disciplines of Advanced Strategic Thinking, by Rich Horwarth. Here are some of the..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Our next Valentine's Day contest winner is Cara R. Here's her question: "What is the best way to train someone on our team to facilitate a..
So if any of you have spent time around Patrick Thean or read his book Rhythm, you have heard him use the term “minor major.” It refers to..
Topics: Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings
Many companies I work with are on a calendar year and have completed their annual planning sessions and developed a new Q1 plan to start..
Topics: Strategy Execution
I recently attended the Fortune Growth Summit in Las Vegas. One of the speakers was Jack Daly. Jack is the author of Hyper Sales Growth..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
As we enter the holiday season, it is always a great time to pause and give thanks for those around us, what we have accomplished as an..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
We recently attended the Fortune Growth Summit in Las Vegas. It was two days of great learning with a line up of excellent speakers and..
Topics: Strategy Execution
A running joke among my friends and family is that I never met an internal combustion engine I did not like!
I started riding motorcycles..
“Innovation is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.”
- Albert Szent-Guorgi, 1937 Nobel Prize for..
For those of you that have children, you have no doubt experienced the effect a good or bad coach has on your child’s success in sports. ..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
This is one of those songs that sticks in your head and you can’t get rid of it, right? However, you have to admit, it really sets the..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
“In war, there is no prize for runner-up.” - Omar Bradley, U.S. General
The last blog I wrote asked questions about how your company’s..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
Like many of you, I have found that finding and hiring the right people can be a challenge. Most of us use traditional methods of hiring..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I try to keep up my monthly intake of business books, and I am always looking for those gems that provoke thought, provide a new way to..
Try optimizing, automating and outsourcing to reduce your stress and improve your performance.
I recently attended the Fortune Leadership..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I recently had the pleasure of hearing Pat Williams speak at the Fortune Leadership Summit.
Pat Williams is a basketball Hall-of-Famer,..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I have been coaching more and more clients on developing their Brand Promise and Brand Promise Guarantee. There are many components of..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
As a Rhythm consultant, I work with many clients to help them develop their KPI’s and Critical Numbers. One of the goals is to have two..
Are your critical numbers working for you? The key to accomplishing your goals is execution. Critical numbers help ensure you are..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
I have always been interested in learning more about myself and how to interact better with others. As human beings, we have many things..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
I attended the Fortune Growth Summit in October and heard Ram Charan speak. Ram is a world-renowned business advisor, author and speaker..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
A client of mine recently asked me if I had read Playing to Win – How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin. Lafley is..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mohandas Gandhi
Topics: Strategies for Growth
At Rhythm Systems, we coach our clients to develop simple, powerful, long-term, annual and quarterly plans. One of the ways we do this is..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
The holiday season is always a good time to pause and give thanks for the people in our personal lives. We do this by hosting holiday..
I just finished listening to Robert Cialdini’s work on “Principals of Ethical Influence.” Mr. Cialdini is the Regents' Professor Emeritus..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
What does it take to go from being an overachiever to a superachiever? Darren Hardy, Publisher and Founding Editor of Success magazine..
Topics: Strategy Execution
How are your quarterly and annual planning meetings going? Are you the one who has to facilitate the meeting each time? Here are some..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Do you ever ask yourself if what got you here will get you where you want to grow as a leader or entrepreneur? I find myself asking that..
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
Are your employees consistently demonstrating the behaviors necessary to accomplish the company's goals?
Topics: Accountable Leaders & Teams
If you are like a lot of companies that adopt a new methodology, you want to do it all at once. The problem is that it's just not..
Topics: Strategies for Growth
I recently attended the Fortune Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida and had the opportunity to hear some phenomenal speakers share their..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Strategy Execution
“Today’s managers recognize the impact that measures have on performance. But rarely think of measurement as an essential part of their..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, KPIs & Dashboards
Evaluating your measurement system and selecting the right KPI’s and critical numbers is essential to ensure you are monitoring the right ..
Topics: KPIs & Dashboards
Have you performed an inventory and explored what internal assets you have in your business lately? Most companies have assets that can..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning