Make It Easy

Do you ever get frustrated or angry tripping over company policies and systems that make buying very difficult? I have spent much of my free time in the past two weeks trying to engineer a rework of a odd-size cooktop to replace an obsolete cartridge. (Yes, I am a do-it-yourselfer whenever I can be. And when I can't be I like to have a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about so I don't get ripped off by contractors).

Essentially I wanted to get the sizes, plug to plug compatibility, and other relevant information without a sales pitch for a new cooktop which would mean a new countertop and possibly even a new venting system. Do you think I could find that information easily from the manufacturer? Or two local appliance stores including the one I bought the original unit from? And the big box stores - forget it!

There's an old saying in retailing that far too many companies lose sight of. If you are a marketer, salesperson, customer service representative, engineer, designer, parts manager, equipment service manager, executive or what-have-you, if you are a person who has something to sell then make sure you never lose sight of that old retailing principle: "Make it easy for the customer to buy."

About me: Dan Pelley's career experiences range from the shipping room to the boardroom and the college classroom. He has worked in companies as diverse as metal stamping, foundries, pharmaceuticals, computers and electronic components, hospitals, nursing homes, motor carriers, distribution, retailers, social services, government, quasi-government agencies, a major art museum and an airline. He shares his experiences through programs and seminars for companies in New England and through this blog.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

A Quality Statement

I had occasion to read the Quality Mission Statement of a local company the other day. There were four major points:

1. Conformance with the requirements of the Quality Management System.

2. Zero defects to the customer. (Great! I was expecting that one).

3. Zero late deliveries. ( Also great; but something I don't usually see).

4. Continuously reduce the cost of quality. (How very interesting. Although I've not seen that one before, it is so appropriate to the quality mission. After all, any quality deficiency invariably costs time and money. So lets go for zero defects and zero late deliveries and do it in such a way that we save money at the same time).

About me: Dan Pelley's career experiences range from the shipping room to the boardroom and the college classroom. He has worked in companies as diverse as metal stamping, foundries, pharmaceuticals, computers and electronic components, hospitals, nursing homes, motor carriers, distribution, retailers, social services, government, quasi-government agencies, a major art museum and an airline. He shares his experiences through programs and seminars for companies in New England and through this blog.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Let Your People Set Their Own Goals

If you're a good leader you should be able to coach and teach your people to set goals for themselves as individuals, and goals for their department as a group or a team. If you can successfully do that you'll gain two very powerful results:

1. Studies have shown that people who are allowed to set their own goals tend to set those goals higher than the boss would have set for them.

2. People who set their own goals tend to achieve them no matter how much extra time and effort is required.

About me: Dan Pelley teaches Setting goals as part of his "Managing for Results" program, one of five programs leading to a Certificate in Supervisory Management. Other topics include an overview of the management process, organizing resources, scheduling, contingency planning, and time management.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Man Plans, God Laughs

I took a day off recently to catch up on some things around the house. Yard work mostly. I had the day all planned out. Exactly what I was going to do and the order in which I was going to do it. I scheduled the late morning to power vac the heavy accumulation of lawn clippings resulting from finally mowing the overgrown lawn the day before. As soon as the morning dew dried I would get to it. Then I heard the weather forecast. Rain heading here. Arriving soon.

As I furiously raked up the wet (dewy) grass (the power vac doesn't like wet grass), I remembered an old Yiddish saying: "Man Plans, God laughs." Or, if you wish, "the best laid plans of mice and men and women are always subject to the unknown."

While researching the origin of the saying, I ran across an interesting article you may want to read. Click here to see the article at jewishmag.com.

About Pelleyblog. This blog covers topics of interest to managers, particularly those at the first-line supervisor level. Occasionally we include topics of general interest, topics about Dan Pelley's background and experiences, and a rare occasional rant. We welcome your comments on this or any other post.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Do You Worry About Mistakes?

Mistakes are a natural part of the human experience. Everyone makes them. Some people agonize and worry about them, other people treat them for what they are: learning experiences. Here's a couple of thoughts to help put mistakes into proper perspective:

"Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things. In a world where we are so sure to incur them, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than excessive nervousness on their behalf."
William James

"You work for me and you don't make mistakes once in a while, you're not doing your job."
Reginald LaVerdiere

About Pelleyblog: We focus on topics of interest to supervisors, group leaders, foremen, department managers, project managers, team leaders, assistant managers, associate managers, office managers, nurse managers, crew leaders, unit managers, and other first-line managers. But managers at all levels, and people interested in management topics are welcome and are encouraged to join us.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

On Being Criticized

Do you get discouraged when someone criticizes you? Here's another way of looking at criticism:

"What do you care when some folks start knocking you? It's a sign you are starting to get someplace." Ralph Ellison, "The Invisible Man"

About Pelleyblog: Pelleyblog is designed to be a resource for supervisors and other first line managers. Currently most of our readers are from Rhode Island (RI), Central Massachusetts (MA) and Eastern Connecticut (CT). But everyone interested in management topics is welcome.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

The Hurrier I Go

"The Hurrier I go, the behinder I get." That's what my Dad used to say. And that's what I'm going to say today in this short post. To say I've been busy over the past several weeks would be an understatement.

So far this week I've delivered a highly customized version of "Participative Management" in Norwich, CT on Tuesday. A standard version of "Leadership Skills" in Lincoln, RI yesterday. Today I'll be eight hours "on the platform" doing "Proactive Leadership" in the morning and "Building High Performance Teams" in the afternoon in Danielson, CT. Tomorrow the newly revised "Thriving on Change" with a totally new PowerPoint presentation, totally revised materials, and three new case studies will be presented in Eastford, CT.

The balance of my time this week has been spent developing a survey for a customer, finishing "Thriving on Change," and working with the host company in Colchester, CT regarding their upcoming special programs at a special price. See the post on 3/29/09 for more information. Two of the three programs are sold out ("Interviewing Skills" and "Effective Performance Appraisals").

So off I go to Danielson. Have a great day.

About me: For 25 years, Dan Pelley has presented supervisory management development programs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is the 2004 recipient of the Richard Fontaine Award for Teaching Excellence awarded by Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, CT.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Uncle Hank Said

Here's a bit of wisdom for today. It comes from Uncle Hank who always admonished us to be very careful about what we say. Particularly in areas that we know very little about. And especially where we are trying to "wing it," to make it look like we know what we are talking about.

Here's the thought for today from Uncle Hank :"Always remember, until you open your mouth, no one knows just how stupid you really are!"

Enjoy the day.


About me: Dan Pelley is an educator specializing in management training and development programs for supervisors and other first-line managers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Prior to becoming an educator he was an operating executive with a proven track record. He knows of what he speaks.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Thought for the Day

Do you ever feel this way?

MY JOB

I'm not allowed to run the train, the whistle I can't blow.
I'm not the one who designates how far the train will go.
I'm not allowed to blow the steam, or even ring the bell,
But let the damn thing jump the track and see who catches hell.

by: ANON

About Pelleyblog: We focus on topics of interest to supervisors, group leaders, foremen, department managers, project managers, team leaders, assistant managers, associate managers, office managers, nurse managers, crew leaders, unit managers, and other first-line managers. But managers at all levels, and people interested in management topics are welcome and are encouraged to join us.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Thought for the Day

"An ethical person always chooses to do the right thing in every situation, even when no one is looking, even if no other person will ever know about it, even if they will get no recognition, reward, or credit for it; an ethical person always chooses to do the right thing."


About Pelleyblog: We focus on topics of interest to supervisors, group leaders, foremen, department managers, project managers, team leaders, assistant managers, associate managers, office managers, nurse managers, crew leaders, unit managers, and other first-line managers. But managers at all levels, and people interested in management topics are welcome and are encouraged to join us.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Thought For the Day

When people have plenty of time to gossip, complain, raise petty issues, point the finger, talk behind others backs, and dwell on minor faults, that's often a good indicator that they simply don't have enough work to do.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.

Thought for the Day

Most of the decisions we face as a manager are not worth more than a minute or two of our time.

ANON

Copyright © 2009 Daniel W. Pelley
All rights reserved.