Richard Magid

It's often the case that during an initial meeting with an entrepreneurial leader, he or she will proclaim, "I bear the entire burden of the business, the weight on my back is overwhelming!" While employees walk into an organization with a different mindset than employers and high level managers, with the right people on the team, the same passion and care could be shared among the entire organization.

Contingency planning is not just for large organizations. Small business owners need to be prepared for an unplanned leave of absence.

Have you ever experienced a misunderstanding over what you thought was something clearly communicated without any emotional component? Did you ever have an unexpected impact on a person to whom you were communicating and had no understanding as to why?

The time has finally come for you to move ahead and transition from your college, vocational, and/or technical education environments into the world of business. You may have already chosen a specific industry to “make your mark” and are facing the reality that the marketplace today is very competitive. Therefore, to accelerate your new career and differentiate yourself, it is a critical time for you to look inside and “unlock the leader” within you.

Conflict is inevitable. It is proof that we are all unique individuals with distinctive values, opinions and perceptions. Conflict can be both a positive driver and a counterproductive force in the workplace. Unresolved conflicts can sabotage the effective functioning of any organization, and should be dealt with head-on whenever a disagreement keeps people from working together as a team.

Ever try to complete a jigsaw puzzle without a picture of the finished product? Then you’ve got a good idea how tough it is to create a strategic plan when you don’t know where your business is headed. To many business owners, strategic planning is an intimidating process. At first glance, it seems overwhelming — too time-consuming, too introspective, and frankly just too hard. You’re not alone…just 14% of all businesses operate with a current plan in place. So, why bother with strategic p

While it is theoretically possible that many people have the capacity to lead, becoming a leader is a little more complicated than simply wanting it. Above all, you want your organization to be one in which leadership can thrive. In order to create a culture of leadership, several important factors have to be considered.

In the business that I own, I am fortunate everyday to have the opportunity to meet with other business owners, executives and leaders from a broad cross-section of industries. Up until about 60 days ago, there continued to be a sense of optimism and confidence that they would survive and even prosper in, what was becoming, a soft economy. They continued to make strategic investments in their businesses, were hiring additional staff, (where warranted), and still planned for 2009 and beyond.

There are so many challenges of entrepreneurship and growing a business that "it's like pushing a boulder up a steep hill"! There are ways to lighten that load, get help with the pushing and cut back on the slope of the hill.

Studies have shown that Organizational Climate can impact employee productivity and bottom line profits by up to 30%...in addition, 70% of this variance is rooted in leadership performance....