Month: August 2007
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Branded training for front-line managers
Front-line supervisors who undergo management training learn how to provide feedback, resolve conflicts, assert authority, communicate, delegate, and motivate employees, reports The Wall Street Journal in “Firms Step Up Training for Front-Line Managers” (8/28/07). Companies like Dell and Home Depot are expanding their programs in an effort to “better motivate and engage workers in an increasingly global and fast-paced…
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Checklists are not a substitute for brand communication
The Wall Street Journal once published an article about people who keep to-do lists. It caught my attention as I am forever carrying around a list of things to do and consider it a small victory every time I check off one of those tasks as done. One of the points the article made…
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Branding and the importance of being authentic
How many times have you . . . Needed help from another individual or department to resolve an issue, but they put obstacles in your path rather than help you—for no real reason at all? Had a pressing matter to discuss at a meeting, but the meeting kept being deflected to other, trivial matters? Participated…
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Branding in the real world: 20 lessons learned
In my experience as a brand specialist, I’ve learned many lessons. Some of them I’ve often seen in print; others, never. Here are a few. 1. Some people think they need to make a “big splash” out of a branding initiative. I disagree: Until you’re absolutely ready to launch (and that means you have buy-in…
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Branding as an organizational change
Branding ideally is something that exists from the moment the company is born. It is not a change but is rather part of the living breathing fabric of the organization. That way it is not something that people have to separately “buy into,” an approach which may or may not work. But what happens if…
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5 ways to achieve brand consistency
In the beginning the company (brand) is launched with the best of intentions. There is a leader, with a vision of what the company can achieve, and he or she implements that vision within the small group of people who helped to found the organization. Then, more people join the organization. Suddenly the original vision,…
Management Excellence 