Recent Articles from Merit Gest
Get your top performers going…
John is the CEO of a consulting firm in the Midwest. About nine months ago, the firm added Trevor to their roster of consultants. So far, Trevor’s progress has been slow and John is wondering what the problem is . . . is it the firm’s process for getting people up to speed or is […]
Three ways to avoid the first-day-on-the-job blues
Looking back on that day, is it any wonder that I am a Professional Onboarding Specialist today? I want to do what I can to help companies create a better experience for their new recruits. Here are three things you can do to make sure your new hire’s experience doesn’t look like the one I endured.
Right brain, left brain
The world is made up of people who are left brain or right brain thinkers. The left brainers are logical, analytical and think in terms of process. Right brainers are creative and not necessarily linear thinkers. What does this have to do with effective onboarding? A lot. LB (Left Brain) Corporation has a detailed orientation […]
Four great effort-enhancing strategies
Do I have your attention? Would you like to know how to get more effort and engagement from the very beginning when a new employee starts working for you? Would you like to “re-board” the people you already have on your team?
Four great performance-enhancing strategies
I found myself swept up in Olympics fever. Of particular interest to me, especially in the running events, was the commentary about the importance of the techniques the runners use when starting their race. In most of the races and relays, it was the starting moments that made the difference in the finish at the […]
The high cost of slackers
One of the major reasons turnover is so costly is because companies keep non-performers in their jobs too long.
Someone who is not executing their job well costs a great deal in terms of lost productivity, poor morale and lost opportunities, not to mention frustration, anxiety and stress.
How to avoid the high cost of turnover
In most companies, the biggest expense is human capital. While that is not a newsflash, what is surprising to many business leaders is the true cost of turnover. Turnover costs range from 30 to 250 percent of a person’s annual salary. According to the Society of Human Resources Management, cost of...
Top 10 ways to become a business “previvor”
I became a “previvor” after genetic testing indicated my high risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. We all know cancer survivors, people who fight with everything in their power to beat the disease, but as science and medicine have advanced, there is a new game in town. Previvors are people who are clear about […]
Five great tips for dealing with stress in sales
Let’s face it — there is stress in our lives. If you are dependent on closing sales to feed your family, there can be a tremendous amount of stress until you made your budget, quota or income for the month. And that stress returns month after month after month. It’s great to have solid selling […]
How empathy is killing your sales career
The hardest part about selling in a down economy is not the extra layers of decision makers or the tighter budgets to deal with — it’s customer empathy. When we are making cutbacks in our personal lives it’s easy to understand that our customers and prospects are doing the same thing for themselves and for their […]
The secret to getting more referrals
If you’ve been in business for a while, you have probably experienced the gift of a referral. No need to cold call and network during your precious time if business is coming in through referrals. Over the years, I have taught business people across a wide range of industries on how to get more and […]
Sales down? Then get up!
By now it’s a safe bet that the New Year’s resolutions have gone by the wayside, and you are back into normal routines and comfort zones. This may seem an unlikely bit of advice from a sales and business consultant, but if you want to get your sales up, you might have to get your […]