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Amazon Corporate Culture: Sweatshop or Paradise?
The recent article in the New York Times[1] criticizing Amazon’s corporate culture as a “brutal” and cutthroat culture has the business pundits all atwitter. It seems this company that has enjoyed astronomical success in on-line retailing may not be everyone’s idea of a great place to work. Employees are reportedly expected to work up to 16… Read More >>
Culture Of Engagement Requires “Generosity Gene”
I’m presently reading The Real-Life MBA: Your No-BS Guide to Winning the Game, Building a Team, and Growing Your Career by Jack and Suzy Welch.1 So far, it’s chock full of practical suggestions on how to be a great leader in business, including how to push employee engagement up. And given their track records (Jack… Read More >>
Nurturing a Productive Corporate Culture
Corporate culture depends on social capital. That’s what was discovered in a study conducted at MIT by Anita Woolley , Thomas W. Malone and Christopher Chabris, the researchers divided 697 volunteer participants into teams of two to five members and gave them various complex tasks to perform and problems to solve. The groups were observed while they… Read More >>
Conflict Management – Check The Facts Before Blaming Others
This past Saturday I learned a thing or two about conflict management. My wife, CJ and I pulled into the parking lot of a local camera store where I was picking up some prints. CJ is wheelchair bound, so we drive a wheelchair ramp van with handicap plates. Unfortunately, the only handicap spot was occupied… Read More >>
Toilet Paper Blossoms: Details Make the Difference for Customers
I recently interviewed Michael Silva-Nash, who is a franchise owner in Little Rock AR for Molly Maid, Inc. Founded in 1979, the company is a highly successful, international company, based in Ann Arbor MI. Molly Maid, Inc. offers residential cleaning services. The company was recently featured on the A&E Channel’s popular show, “Be The Boss.”… Read More >>
Treat Them Right and They’ll Treat You Right – Happy Employees = Great Chili and Loyal Customers
I recently conducted a leadership retreat for a client in Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of my favorite towns. As usual, I made a bee line to Tia Sophia , which has been my favorite purveyor of Northern New Mexican food since I first visited there 15 years ago. (Northern New Mexican is quite different… Read More >>
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE REAL HEROES OF HEALTHCARE
by Larry Johnson While President Obama and the congress debate healthcare reform, not much has been said about the dedicated people who work in healthcare and the incredible differences they can make in the lives of their customers. During a bicycling vacation through Napa Valley in 2003, CJ, my wife of 34 years was involved… Read More >>