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Three great ways to go beyond your comfort zone
If your company has experienced a surge in growth or is coming out of a business challenge, I often recommend to clients that they consider pushing beyond the comfort zone and complacency that inevitably sets in and find a renewed energy (even challenge). In challenge, we learn and create beyond a...
Six attributes of the best HSAs
Consumer-directed health care plans partnered with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) continue to gain popularity as a cost-effective option for both employers and individuals. However, picking the right HSA provider is not so cut and dry. Employers looking at consumer-directed health care plans with HSAs tend to pick providers based on one or two administrative details, […]
Best of CoBiz: Are you working for passion or a paycheck?
(Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from business performance improvement expert Larry Valant’s book, “Stop Breaking These Rules! 100 Hard-Hitting Truths for Business Integrity and Performance.” ) Truth is the grand simplifier. “f you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. – Mark Twain Have you ever noticed how some people seem to […]
Leadership, turbo-charged
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of joining the Leadership Aurora program through the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Each of the major chambers of commerce in Colorado offer a similar program. I chose the Aurora program because I have been a member of this chamber for more than six years a...
The bad data boondoggle
The problem with “big data” — the new, hip phrase bandied about by everyone from the CEO to the janitor — is getting your arms around it. The problem with “bad data” is that you got your arms around it, but it wasn’t a prince or princess — it was a frog.
Say what? Keep it simple!
All companies—and all managers of people—and everyone who writes for the public— should consider the reasons behind simplified communication. English is complicated; you and I define words with varying degrees of certitude. And I’ve never even heard of some of your words, let alone know what you m...
Do you want to lead or be loved?
I believe the following to be policy and results focused, not political, but just in case… I’m Todd Ordal, and I approved this message. It’s nice to be liked and loved; it’s just not an effective goal for a leader. If more leaders worried less about upsetting people, the world might be a better place […]
Four conditions for high performance
Imagine a consultant spending one hour with your team to discuss a single question, “What does your manager expect of you?” Would the consultant see blank faces? Would they receive a flood of, “I don’t know?” Would employees provide vague and hesitant responses such as, “customer service” or “re...
Say goodbye to signatures
I recently closed a large transaction without signing a single piece of physical paper. It was painless. The entire negotiation was done using email and DocuSign. I’m doing this at least once a week at this point. Either with DocuSign or EchoSign, the two services that seem to be most popular. I generally hate paper […]
Best of CoBiz: Success secrets of world-class athletes and business leaders
Olympic athletes and world-class business leaders have many of the same success secrets. Here is one: They know how to control their fear, anger and frustration as part of creating a mindset of greatness. Fear, anger and frustration wreak havoc on your success! These negative emotions, like all em...
A great start for great people
Most of us can remember that first day on the job, which feels a lot like the first day at a new school. You don’t know anyone and feel ill at ease. You’re afraid you’ll forget what you’ve just been told to do and feel like an idiot—or, worse, make a mistake that costs your new company a lot of mo...
Best of CoBiz: It’s hard to look smart with bad numbers
(Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from business performance improvement expert Larry Valant’s book, Stop Breaking These Rules! 100 Hard-Hitting Truths for Business Integrity and Performance.) Measure progress to plan with regular reviews of key and defined milestones. A plan is the means by which obstacles are overcome to achieve the objectives. A good plan […]
