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Best of CoBiz: Under-promise and over-deliver
When asked to do something, we too easily reply, "Yes, I think so." When in fact a little thought would make it clear we are over-promising and therefore will not be able to deliver as promised. And to be sure, the person who made the initial, often unreasonable request will forget that the reques...
Top nine scariest things about running a business
It’s fun to consider the bucket list of intimidation that factor into running (and owning) a successful business. But it ultimately boils down to the intersection of time and money. Most of us have experienced life without either one – and then there are cycles when there’s time but no money, or m...
Driving without your headlights
Many businesses try to navigate the road ahead by looking in the rear view mirror, and some haven’t turned on the lights! The fact that you cannot see around all the corners doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. You’ll never see all the competitive threats, substitute products or environmental changes...
Why give back?
Why give back? Because we owe a lot of our success to everyone here in Denver. If you have ever thought of getting your company more involved through donations of services or products, it’s a good idea to stick to some basics. Our experience is noteworthy, and I believe it may contain some bits of...
Challenge your assumptions
Look into your own business and personal beliefs. Where are the inherent assumptions you should be challenging about your employees, your clients, your market and your industry? Why do you do things the way you do? Should you focus on input or outcomes? Will giving employees a raise really make th...
Your mission — should you choose to accept it
We work hard to nurture a staff that understands company culture and expectations, we are able to trust our employees to do the right thing. This behavior is peer-rewarded, leadership-recognized and privy to some pretty unique benefits. If (on the other hand) employees don’t live up to these expec...
My take on Tesla
What is good for Tesla isn't necessarily good for everyone else. Do patents really stifle innovation and award attorneys to the detriment of inventors as Musk contends? There are no doubt dozens if not hundreds of small – even tiny – companies across the country trying to develop new motor and bat...
The age of the “intrapreneur”
An individual that acts as an entrepreneur within an organization: an intrapreneur. A person employed at a company who seeks to implement his/her creative ideas to advance the business. Many companies have a handful of them in house, but those in leadership positions might not recognize the traits...
Exploring servant leadership
The leader serves? The power is with the followers to determine whom they choose to follow willingly? It was a mind-flip that has stayed with me to this day. Directing people results in begrudging compliance. There is little commitment or engagement from them. Serving people leads to willing follo...
The power of friction
Although at first it might seem desirable to create a business environment without friction, it’s a big mistake. Without friction, issues go unresolved because feathers might get ruffled, people avoid hard decisions because someone might lose, folks don’t give honest feedback, and the block of woo...
A focus on performance excellence
The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is the nation’s highest recognition for organizational performance excellence. The program was established via an act of Congress in 1987 to help jumpstart the economy and give the country a much-needed boost in recognizing those organizations that were...
Try really listening
Do you talk too much? I do – it’s one of my weaknesses. I often try to make my point by giving examples and telling stories. I’m not afraid to be wrong so often I’ll toss out and idea and talk through it. I don’t go so far as to “think out loud” like some people I work with, but I regularly find m...
