The Aileron Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Eliminating Performance Reviews: Cutting Edge or Finally Catching On?

Nicole — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 14:53:54 -0000

Justin, how do your reviews look like? If they were like ours... where you spend hours writing down everything you did... we asked ourselves, how does this piece of paper hold us accountable?

Re: Eliminating Performance Reviews: Cutting Edge or Finally Catching On?

Justin Long — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 13:41:52 -0000

I love the concept. We have made an effort to increase the informal conversations but have not eliminated the reviews. I would like to hear in more detail what your accountability looks like with this change.

Re: The Fox And The Chipmunk: A Lesson In Decision Making

editing service — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:34:56 -0000

It does not seem unreasonable to suggest that every person who is good decision maker in any situation solve or face any situation in precise manner. In that case this is absolutely normal criteria to all to have some ideas about the decision making issues regarding taking any decision as well solve the issues in all the way. Therefore this is very much productive along with contemporary materials to solve it purposefully. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Male and female symbol intertwined – clipping path included

Bonolota Sarkar — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 15:38:05 -0000

Wow wonderful blog i appreciate it ............that's great.

Re: Mergers &amp; Acquisitions – Two Key Steps for Effective Preparation for Sale

Madhu Agrawal — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 01:46:01 -0000

Extremely helpful article for expert Entrepreneurs for purchase and offer reason. Callido learning provides an interactive online course which
gives you the key skills and complete confidence to succeed in the International Baccalaureate Diploma program and make the most of it. Also helps you in IB Subject Selection: Which subjects are better to choose? The IB is a wild ride – are you prepared?

Re: Primogeniture Is Fading

Larry Grypp — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:36:58 -0000

Joel, as family businesses evolve, the leadership needs of a company may change. Thus, understanding the skills, experience, talents and passion that will best serve the company is a priority. That will help qualify the available candidates. There are many family businesses where a family minority owner reports to a non-family leader. Of course, in the event of a 'tie', dedicated family members have an advantage.

Larry

Re: Primogeniture Is Fading

Joel Osterman — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 07:51:43 -0000

Larry how does one go about determining the best family member to lead the next generation?

Re: Don’t Settle For Sustainability – Flourish!

Roger Wetlaufer — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:36:39 -0000

Leon was right. Employees in a closely held family business constantly worry that the business will be sold or maybe closed. They need constant reassuring and your actions need to support your words. if the business is to survive it must flourish, I agree wholeheartedly.

Re: Common Mistakes Made In Owning And Transitioning A Business

John Neff — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:31:23 -0000

Good article and terrific checklist for any family business. The challenges of combining family with business presents unique issues that are often overlooked/avoided. Owners, especially founders, who do not have something to retire 'to' resonated with my experience with our family business. Also, I believe it is helpful to think more broadly about succession - both management team succession as well as ownership succession.

Re: As A Business Owner, I Just Needed Someone To Listen

Kris — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 08:27:41 -0000

Awesome DuWain. Marty is a blessing to us all at Aileron as well. Glad he can help you out. Can't wait to hear what strides you make in the near future!

Re: Do You Know Your Customers As Well As You Think?

Susan Gnann — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:43:46 -0000

Choices abound. Almost everything is a commodity and therefore relationships are still the way business is done. Just ask and then listen.

Re: Common Mistakes Made In Owning And Transitioning A Business

Tom Besanceney — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:36:32 -0000

An outside facilitator is an absolute must in these situations! I interviewed a young part owner/ CEO of a successful firm with over 500 employees. His newly formed advisory board was set up just before his father handed him the reins, then moved to Florida.
As he felt, he was working for the advisory board, since his Dad controlled it.

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

ed eppley — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 00:06:18 -0000

There is plenty of evidence that proves more data does not result in better decisions. In fact, the research indicates that for most people, too much data causes people to make "no decision". We want to believe we are rational, but most of us make most financial decisions because of how it makes us feel, not because it's the correct decision.

Re: The Top Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs

Yura Bryant — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:53:25 -0000

Completely agree with invest for the long-term, sell and learn. The entrepreneurial journey is a long, challenging road. If you are not selling then you are not eating. If you are not up to date on whats going on in your industry and the marketplace then you are just preparing yourself for failure.

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Ed Baker — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 11:07:02 -0000

There is pressure in business to follow the rule, "don’t just stand there – do something!" The general problem is that actions may be reactions and not based on an understanding of the system and the consequences of one’s decisions. Acting from knowledge of the dynamics of the system, when immediate response is not needed, can minimize what Dr. Deming called "tampering," those actions that make things worse rather than better. Clay’s principle might also be understood as "don’t tamper."

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

George James — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 07:34:02 -0000

Clay’s perspective is well-founded and, no doubt, a rich target for discussion. “Never make a decision until you have too” is absolutely correct, however, there is much more to understanding decision-making.

From my perspective, decision-making is a multi-dimensional process that consists of three critical components; knowledge, decision and action, that must be managed simultaneously. Therefore, good decision-making is relative to the capability to develop appropriate knowledge, the confidence and responsibility to make a decision, and the ability to effectively implement actions that are designed to achieve a desired outcome.

The speed of the process is dependent upon the urgency of the situation. Using this approach not only enables you to know when you have to make a decision, it also provides an incredible base for understanding the outcome; good or bad. I call it ‘ReINVENTive Thinking’ - the Art of Decision-Making.

One of my favorite requests of business owners and executives is, “Tell me the process you used to make the decision.”

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Roger Wetlaufer — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:04:31 -0000

My problem with Clay's quote is the use of the word "never". Some decisions should be made quickly, but these are the more obvious ones. I have found that when pondering a very difficult decision the best decision usually presents itself to you when you have done all your due diligence.

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Tom Besanceney — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:35:31 -0000

I agree with Clay on this one. Even on a subliminal level, your mind continues to collect information & process outside factors while sharpening your thoughts.

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Frans Jager — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 12:39:41 -0000

Clay Mathile's explanation is much better than the quote on the wall that, I too, have questioned. Decisions should be made when you know what you want to achieve and you have done your homework.

Re: The Best Way To Do Strategic Planning

Nicole — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:33:22 -0000

Great questions, Rob. Thanks for asking! One way to document the process is to use process mapping. You can do this individually on a whiteboard or with a software like Visio, or you can do with your strategic planning team through a facilitated discussion.

A great tool to help you get started is Aileron's Approach to Strategic Planning Guide: http://bit.ly/y7KFwo
Included in this document is a high-level process (see the 5 column chart). Use this as your starting point to flesh out the steps behind each of the boxes (i.e., external audit, internal audit, etc.)

Does this help?

Re: The Best Way To Do Strategic Planning

Tony Collins — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:50:17 -0000

Nicole-- Your blog discusses an often overlooked aspect of strategic planning--relooking, refining and refocusing the process itself. It was a great reminder to me when I take a client through the second or third planning cycle--to make sure to "plan" the plan. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Why An Outside Board Is The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business

Dick Roettker — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:40:41 -0000

I agree with Tom. Advice is useless if not discussed with the giver. I have spoken with several friends and acquaintances that have established an outside board of directors, and were very happy with the result.

Re: Why An Outside Board Is The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business

Tom Besanceney — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:05:34 -0000

As important as a Advisory Board is the building of an Advice structure in the business organization. This involves the flow of information to the owner and
how the owner processes/listens to advice. This structure should involve customers, vendors and employees. Instead of the owner just saying "no" to a new idea, he/she should explain "why."

Re: How to Motivate Today’s "Young People"

Scott George — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 11:51:32 -0000

I especially like your comments related to the defining characteristics of the generations. These are the prevalent stereotypes for the generations. In the absence of real data, we as human-beings, consciously and unconsciously, use the prevalent stereotypes (whether we believe them to be true or not) to make judgments about people.
We can reduce the impact of the prevalent stereotypes by following your advice; to ask questions, listen and get to know each person as an individual. This replaces the prevalent stereotype with real data. It enables us to replace the lens provided by human nature and focus on each person as an individual and see them for who they truly are.

Re: How to Motivate Today’s "Young People"

Tony Collins — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 08:25:57 -0000

Good Stuff, Nicole. We do tend to lump people together in intellectual groupings which oftentimes does not serve the company or the individual well. Thanks!

The Aileron Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Eliminating Performance Reviews: Cutting Edge or Finally Catching On?

Re: Eliminating Performance Reviews: Cutting Edge or Finally Catching On?

Re: The Fox And The Chipmunk: A Lesson In Decision Making

Re: Male and female symbol intertwined – clipping path included

Re: Mergers &amp;amp; Acquisitions – Two Key Steps for Effective Preparation for Sale

Re: Primogeniture Is Fading

Re: Primogeniture Is Fading

Re: Don’t Settle For Sustainability – Flourish!

Re: Common Mistakes Made In Owning And Transitioning A Business

Re: As A Business Owner, I Just Needed Someone To Listen

Re: Do You Know Your Customers As Well As You Think?

Re: Common Mistakes Made In Owning And Transitioning A Business

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: The Top Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: Never Make A Decision Until You Have To

Re: The Best Way To Do Strategic Planning

Re: The Best Way To Do Strategic Planning

Re: Why An Outside Board Is The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business

Re: Why An Outside Board Is The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Business

Re: How to Motivate Today’s "Young People"

Re: How to Motivate Today’s "Young People"

Re: Mergers & Acquisitions – Two Key Steps for Effective Preparation for Sale